Sensor-embedded plastic wrap makes brain surgery safer

It almost goes without saying that brain surgery requires extreme precision, but there hasn’t been much advancement in brain mapping techniques for the past two decades. What good is a breakthrough procedure if you’re still using bulky, imprecise 1990s-era technology as a guide? Researchers may have a better way: they’ve developed an electrode grid-based brain mapping tool that’s both much easier to wield and far more precise. Instead of relying on the usual metal electrodes, they switched to a conductive polymer that’s so tiny and thin it makes Saran Wrap look ungainly. That, in turn, let them stuff 25 times more electrodes into the same space while slimming their tool down to just 0.0002 inches thick instead of a few tenths of an inch.

The result is a brain mapping device that fits much more closely to the brain (giving it better readings) and delivers higher resolution in the process. Real-world tests bear that out. While a regular device and the experimental model could both spot brain areas triggering epileptic seizures, the new device could capture more detail.

There’s a lot of work to be done: the scientists want to build higher-density electrode grids and verify that this device can stay in your body for a long time without creating issues. It could be years before surgeons get their hands on a finished product. If and when they do, though, the technology could make brain surgery considerably safer. Doctors would be less likely to damage or remove healthy parts of your brain, and they could cut more aggressively than they might otherwise.

Source: UC San Diego

Google Photos adds an archive button to declutter your stream

Google Photos has been gently nudging users to store and share more on its service lately. Earlier this month, the Photos team unveiled some AI-powered sharing suggestions and a Google Lens integration that will make its image recognitions even smarter. But the latest update is a much simpler one meant to keep your photos in Google’s cloud without crowding up your main stream.

According to 9to5Google, a simple Archive feature is already rolling out to users on Android and is accessible from the navigation drawer in the app. Archived photos will stay in your albums and search results, but won’t appear in your main Photos tab. It’s a handy way to keep your main stream clutter-free and hide extra shots that you don’t want to delete completely. In a similar move, Instagram also unveiled an archive feature recently, giving users the ability to make individual posts private. While Instagram is more of a social network than a cloud archive solution like Google Photos, both services obviously recognize their users’ compulsive need to prune their feeds.

The Archive function is currently live in Google Photos on Android and will reportedly be coming soon to the web and iOS versions.

Congressional internet privacy bill would counter FCC rollbacks

The US House of Representatives may have voted to roll back the FCC’s privacy rules and let internet providers sell your browser history without your explicit permission, but there’s a proper replacement waiting in the wings… maybe. Tennessee Representative Marsha Blackburn has proposed a bill, the Browser Act, that would have both internet providers and content providers (like Facebook or Google) get your permission before selling data. They couldn’t refuse service if you disagreed, either. The measure would theoretically please both privacy advocates as well as those telecoms that saw the FCC’s ISP-only regulation as unfair, such as AT&T. However, there are still serious areas of concern — it’s possible that this bill would anger both sides.

Most notably, the bill would prevent both the FCC and states from pursuing similar online privacy regulations. Is a privacy issue better-suited to the FCC than Congress? Too bad. And civil liberties groups aren’t entirely convinced that the Browser Act is as much of a boon to privacy as it could be. The ACLU’s Neema Singh Guliani tells Recode that “gutting” the FCC regulation wasn’t the answer to privacy issues — there should have been a “replacement,” she says.

Meanwhile, some companies see this as going too far. The Internet Association, which represents the likes of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Twitter, is concerned the bill would “upend the consumer experience online and stifle innovation.” It’s not clear that this is true, but advertisers would certainly be unhappy if they had to make do with only a fraction of the data they have now. Sites that thrive on selling data definitely wouldn’t be pleased. Moreover, some telecoms may balk at any regulation restricting how they sell data, no matter how consistent or light it might be.

All of this assumes the bill goes anywhere. It’s not certain that Blackburn’s proposal will come up for a vote, let alone get the President’s signature. The current anti-regulatory environment could make it difficult to pass any bill that proposes more limits, even if there are clauses that might please the anti-rule camp. If the Browser Act survives the gauntlet, however, it would at least partially fill the privacy vacuum that Congress just created.

Source: Recode

DJI’s palm-sized Spark drone delivers epic selfies

Everyone loves taking selfies, even if they don’t like to admit it. And if you’re looking to take those snaps of yourself to the next level, DJI’s new, cutesy Spark drone may be just for you. The company’s latest drone is designed to fit on the palm of your hand and can be controlled with motion gestures, letting you take some over-the-top pictures and videos without much effort. You can wave your hand to have move it up or down, right or left and pull it toward or away from you, while a quick gesture that resembles you taking a picture will trigger the camera’s selfie mode. The only drawback to this is that the Spark can only go up to 10 feet away from you, and that’s where the Spark’s companion app and remote control come in.

The smartphone application will make the overall experience better, as it increases the drone’s maximum reach to about 300 feet when you’re controlling it this way. Not only that, but the app will let you choose between a few different shooting modes: QuickShot, Dronie, Circle and Helix. QuickShot, for example, turns the Spark into a camera operator of sorts, as it’s main goal is to take cinematic videos of you. The feature locks onto a subject, follows them for around a minute and then turns that footage into a 10-second clip that you can share with your friends.

Meanwhile, the analog remote lets you have control of the drone for roughly 1.3 miles, though it doesn’t feature a built-in screen like the model included with its sibling the Mavic Pro. DJI says the idea with the Spark was to make a drone that was all about simplicity, which could help it in its quest to reach mainstream audiences. Up until today, the only drone really like the Spark has been Zerotech’s Dobby, but that drone depends on a smartphone to control it.

As far as specs go, the Spark features a 12-megapixel sensor (1/2.3-inch), mechanical stabilization and a GPS GLONASS sensor, as well as a 3D depth-sensing and vision-position systems that can detect objects and environments for up to 16 and 96ft, respectively. All in all, the Spark has the potential to be a great little drone, but we’ll have to put it through its paces before we can fully judge it. You can pre-order it today starting at $499 in a variety of different colors, such as sky blue, metal green, alpine white and lava red.

If you want to spend a little more than that, DJI also has a “Fly More” bundle, which includes the Spark itself, a set of propellers a charging box and the analog remote control.

Apple Watch Proves Most Accurate at Measuring Heart Rate in New Fitness Tracker Study

In a new study comparing the accuracy of seven different fitness trackers, the Apple Watch was found to have the lowest margin of error when measuring heart rate, beating the Basis Peak, Fitbit Surge, Microsoft Band, Mio Alpha 2, PulseOn, and Samsung Gear S2.

Researchers set out to determine the accuracy of wrist-worn devices at measuring both heart rate and energy expenditure, aka calories burned via physical activity. 60 volunteers participated, including 29 males and 31 females, each of whom wore several fitness trackers and completed activities like cycling, running, and walking.

Data gathered by the fitness devices was compared against a “gold standard” tracking method, which included an electrocardiograph (ECG) for measuring heart rate and clinical grade indirect calorimetry (measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide expelled when breathing) for measuring calories burned. An error rate of 5 percent was determined to be within acceptable limits.

Across all of the modes of activity, the Apple Watch had the lowest median heart rate error at 2 percent (1.2% to 2.8%), while the Samsung Gear S2 had the highest error rate at 6.8 percent (4.6% to 9%). The Apple Watch was also notably more accurate at measuring heart rate during the walking test than competing products.

For the walking task, three of the devices achieved a median error rate below 5%: the Apple Watch, 2.5% (1.1%-3.9%); the PulseOn, 4.9% (1.4%-8.6%); and the Microsoft Band, 5.6% (4.9%-6.3%). The remaining four devices had median error between 6.5% and 8.8%.

When it came to measuring calories, no device, Apple Watch included, managed to accurately determine how many calories were burned through activity. Median error rates across all devices and tasks ranged from 27.4 percent (Fitbit Surge) to 92.6 (PulseOn). Though no device was accurate, the Apple Watch did the best at estimating energy expenditure.

Overall, researchers found that most of the fitness trackers tested were able to measure heart rate with an acceptable error level in a laboratory setting, but calorie estimates are largely inaccurate.

There are three principal findings from the current study. In a diverse group of individuals: (1) most wrist-worn monitoring devices report HR with acceptable error under controlled laboratory conditions of walking, running and cycling; (2) no wrist-worn monitoring devices report EE within an acceptable error range under these conditions; (3) of the devices tested, the Apple Watch had the most favorable error profile while the Samsung Gear S2 had the least favorable error profile.

The full study, conducted by Stanford University and the Swedish School of Sport and Health Services, is available in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Twitter for Apple TV Gains Support for Live 360 Degree Video and Periscope Global Map

Twitter today updated its app for the Apple TV, introducing support for live 360 degree videos, making it the first Apple TV app to support such a feature.

Following the update, Apple TV users can watch live 360 degree videos directly on their television sets, navigating through the scene with the Siri remote. The new version of the Twitter app for Apple TV also includes support for the Periscope Global Map, letting users find user-created Periscope content from around the world.

Much of Twitter’s television content comes from its content deals, but there is also a wealth of user-generated video sourced from Periscope that can be watched within the Twitter for Apple TV app.

Along with an update to its Apple TV app, Twitter has also updated its iOS app. As noted by TechCrunch, the iOS update offers up new settings to connect a Twitter account stored on an iOS device to the Apple TV, letting users view their Twitter account on the Apple TV.

There’s one other Twitter update, which includes support for Emoji 5.0. Emoji 5.0 was released in March and includes emoji like grinning face with star eyes, vomiting face, face with raised eyebrow, elf, mermaid, zombie, giraffe, pretzel, and more. While Twitter has implemented support for the new emoji, Apple has not, so these characters are only visible when using Twitter for web.

Twitter for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Twitter
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JAM Voice review: This isn’t your ordinary Bluetooth speaker

At first glance, the JAM Voice Speaker appears to be just another unremarkable Bluetooth speaker. Its rubberized black rim and glossy body are pretty but very understated – it won’t catch many glances when it’s sitting on your end table – it has solid heft and a premium feel.

Powering on, we’re treated to a deep, booming series of notes that right away show off the depth of the speaker’s sound. The speaker automatically launches into WiFi mode (indicated by a twinkling charm, in stark contrast to the startup sound). In a matter of ten seconds, we’re shown the bass and treble capabilities of the device, which is a solid design move on JAM’s part. Can I just say how refreshing it is to have audio cues and voice responses in setting up a device, instead of the arbitrary flashing lights that are so common among Bluetooth devices?

From there, we move to the JAM WiFi app (which, obviously, we’ve already installed, because duh) and connect to our local WiFi network. Once connected, we log in to Amazon (to enable Alexa functionality) – this speaker even works with Amazon’s Two-Factor Authentication, which is excellent.

Now, there are really two distinct modes to this particular product. JAM Voice launches in WiFi mode, but a quick press of the Bluetooth button on the bottom of the device transforms it from an Alexa device to a standard Bluetooth Speaker at the press of a button. The battery life is only four hours, but given the size and power of the speaker, that’s not terribly surprising.

WiFi Mode

In WiFi mode, JAM Voice is really meant to be a semi-permanent emplacement, similar to Amazon’s Echo. It has Alexa, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, Tidal, and Napster built-in, and it also supports Spotify via Spotify Connect. One thing it doesn’t support, however (in this mode at least), is Google Play Music – which is a bit of a problem for people like me that are rabid users of the service.

The real shining beacon feature in JAM Voice is the Alexa integration. It’s not as fancy as the Echo – it doesn’t trigger via voice command, only via a single button press, for example – but for a $60 device ($34.99 on Amazon!), it’s quite robust!  The full Alexa suite is at your fingertips with JAM Voice – Music, Books, Lists, Timers/Alarms, Smart Home…it’s quite the bargain. As such, this puts it on a similar level as the Echo Dot, at $50 – which can’t function as a standalone Bluetooth speaker.

Rubberized hardware buttons for easy control.

Bluetooth Mode

This mode is a bit more standard – when unplugged and switched into Bluetooth Mode, JAM Voice becomes a typical Bluetooth speaker, with a four-hour battery and audio mirroring as usual. Granted, four hours may not seem like much, but in such a portable package and so much functionality crammed in, it’s well worth it.

JAM WiFi

Includes media services.

The companion app to this speaker is well-designed and full of functionality, with a few small flaws. A couple of the features that really stood out to me are the ability to group other JAM speakers together, and an intercom feature. The former feature allows you to use groups of JAM speakers to stream audio together, while the latter allows you to record a message and play it to any number of JAM speakers in a group – handy for talking to people in other rooms or other floors.

There are only a couple minor annoyances – firstly, the app only supports the on-screen navigation buttons – not the navigation bar’s ‘back’ button. More than once I found myself exiting the app instead of returning to the previous page – a minor inconvenience, but a noticeable one.

As mentioned above, the app has TuneIn, iHeart Radio, Tidal, and Napster built in. All you need are logins for each – in the case of TuneIn, not even that – and you’re off and running. Spotify is also supported, though you’ll need to download the app on Google Play first.

Performance

The thing that’s most noticeable for me about this device is how loud and deep the sound quality is coming from such a small package. The bass is nice and solid, and the sound is nice and clear. If controlling the speaker by Bluetooth isn’t your thing, there are standard rubberized Play/Pause, Forward, and Back buttons on the rim of the speaker.

One strange thing I found about the hardware buttons is that when hitting max volume, it plays a small chime that actually cuts out the music streaming for a solid two-to-three second until it comes back. Very odd. The response time between the app and the speaker is great – almost instantaneous – and the app is easy to use to control playback and volume.

JAM Voice is available from Amazon ($35), JAM Audio ($60), or Bestbuy ($35). If you’re looking to break into the Alexa scene – or supplement device you already have – pick one up.

Cooler Master reaches for the cosmos with its 25th Anniversary Edition PC case

Why it matters to you

This special edition PC case from Cooler Master is an attractive unit for system builders, sporting curved tempered glass and blue LED ambient lighting.

On Tuesday, Cooler Master updated its Twitter feed with news about a new special edition PC case in honor of the company’s 25th anniversary. Aptly called the Cosmos II 25th Anniversary Edition, it is a chassis pulled straight out of a science-fiction movie, with silver-white, solid brushed aluminum handles protruding from each side of the top and bottom. The case also includes curved, tempered glass on each side enhanced with ambient blue LED lighting to showcase all the hardware goodness inside.

“Ever since the launch of the original Cosmos II, fans have been asking, or making by themselves, for a windowed side panel,” the company states. “Cooler Master has accepted the challenge and to celebrate the 25th anniversary we have released this special edition.”

Here are the hardware details:

Dimensions (inches):
13.54 x 27.71 x 26.14
Motherboard support:
Micro-ATX
ATX
E-ATX
XL-ATX
SSI CEB
SSI EEB
Expansion slots:
10 + 1
Drive bays (5.25-inch):
3
Drive bays (3.5-inch):
2x via X-dock
5x in middle cage
6x in bottom cage
Drive bays (2.5-inch):
11x converted from both drive cages
I/O panel (back):
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
4x USB 2.0 Type-A
Audio In / Out
Fan support (top):
1x 120mm fan installed
Optional – 1x 200mm
Optional – 2x 140mm
Optional – 3x 120mm
Fan support (front):
1x 200mm LED fan installed
Optional – 1x 120mm
Optional – 1x 140mm
Fan support (rear):
1x 140mm fan installed
Optional – 1x 120mm
Fan support (HDD):
2x 120mm LED fans for bottom HDD
Optional – 1x 120mm for middle HDD
Liquid cooling support:
240mm to 280mm radiator (320mm max)
CPU cooler clearance:
190mm
GPU card size support:
190mm to 385mm
Materials (outside):
Aluminum, mesh, and plastic
Materials (frame):
Steel and aluminum
Available color:
Silver/Black combo

On a cooling level, the case consists of a larger upper “zone” and a thinner lower zone separated by an aluminum partition plate. The bottom chamber plays host to the power supply, the six-bay drive cage, and the two included 120mm LED fans. Air is pulled up from bottom vents and into the upper chamber while the power supply has its own intake and exhaust vents.

As for the upper chamber, it’s cooled by the 200mm fan on the front while all heat is blown out the back and top vents. This area is where the motherboard, connected cards, the three 5.25-inch bays, and the five “middle” drive bays reside. Users can easily mount their liquid cooling system radiator at the top of this chamber.

In addition to the handles, the case sports a solid brushed aluminum covered top that includes a sliding panel, which hides the Advanced Control Panel. The case has a solid brushed aluminum front panel, too, that hides the hot-swappable three-bay 5.25-inch drive cage. That said, users can purchase adapters to cram three hard drives into this three-bay cage instead of bulkier optical drives.

Currently, Cooler Master does not provide an ETA on when this special edition case will land in the U.S. However, it is heading to Europe at the end of June for 349 Euros, which translates to around $390.

Facebook redesigns Trending Topics section in bid to offer diversity of news sources

Why it matters to you

If you use social media for your news, you want that news to be fair and unbiased. To that end, Facebook has taken another step to combat

Facebook is waging a war on “filter bubbles,” and has redesigned the Trending Topics section once again in an attempt to be a fair and direct news source, no matter what users’ views or political beliefs are. The new update basically changes the page you’ll see when you click on a topic that’s trending. Now, instead of a single article, Facebook users will see a carousel featuring articles on the topic by various publications.

“By making it easier to see what other news outlets are saying about each topic, we hope that people will feel more informed about the news in their region,” said Facebook in a blog post. “There is no predetermined list of publications that are eligible to appear in Trending, and this update does not affect how Trending topics are identified, which we announced earlier this year.”

Facebook didn’t really outline how it plans on filtering out unreliable news sources in this section. The company has made headlines of late for its so-called war on “fake news,” and it will be interesting to see how it plans on continuing to deliver only reliable news in the next few months.

The update is live in the U.S. on iPhone, and will roll out to Android and to the desktop in the near future.

The change isn’t just aimed at making Trending a little more diverse — it’ll also make Trending more mobile-friendly. Facebook is testing a new feature in News Feed that basically shows users the top three trending stories, after which users can quickly and easily access a list of Trending topics and the discussions surrounding them. The test won’t show up for most people, but Facebook says it wants it to eventually make Trending much more informative and useful, especially on mobile.

“As before, we continue to listen to feedback about Trending, and will keep making improvements in order to provide a valuable experience,” Facebook said.

Keep your new Sony XZ Premium protected with these great cases

To paraphrase Spider-Man’s uncle Ben: With great screens come great responsibilities. Sony’s upcoming XZ Premium, unveiled earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, certainly has a great screen. The diamond-cut, 4K, HDR display will wow you — but with a screen this nice, you’ve got to protect it at any cost. Curved screens are great to look at, but one bad bounce on a staircase or a cement sidewalk could render that beautiful piece of technology forever fractured.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a short list of the best cases available for the XZ Premium, so you’ll be able to enjoy the screen’s voluminous beauty without worry. Slip on one of these bad boys and ride in style from day one.

SunRemex Rugged Armor ($8)

For less than $10, the SunRemex Rugged Armor case provides the type of protection you need. Built from shock-proof, scratch-resistant polycarbonate, this case is equipped with a kickstand so you can enjoy the Premium’s gorgeous display in landscape mode, while the rounded corners defend the phone’s most fragile regions from harm. Plus, the unique grip design prevents any slippage and provides fingerprint protection to boot.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Roxfit Premium Book Case ($15)

Roxfit’s Premium Book Case combines style with strength to create one sleek package. The brushed metal fiber PU front flap and scratch-resistant rear shell are engineered to keep your new phone safe from drops and dings, and the ultra-soft inner lining promises to keep your screen looking good as new. The inner flap even has a credit card slot, so you can leave your wallet or purse behind while on the go.

Buy it now from:

B&H

TopAce Leather Flip Cover ($9)

If you’re looking for a case that’s compact, attractive, and classy, look no further — with TopAce’s Leather Flip Cover, you’ll be stylin’ and profilin’ and keepin’ your XZ Premium protected. The leather and polyurethane shell keeps your phone safe inside and out, with a soft, comfortable interior liner that feels great and includes an easy-access slot for your credit card. It’s even available in four different colors! What’s not to like?

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Vigeer Crystal Clear TPU Case ($8)

What’s the point of buying a sexy new Sony smartphone, only to hide it behind several layers of rubber and plastic? With Vigeer’s Crystal Clear case, your new phone’s natural beauty will be on full display, fully visible through the clear, shock-absorbent TPU shell. The case is scratch-resistant and built to allow easy access to each button and port, and the interior’s unique dotted texture prevents air buildup.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Armor-X Shockproof Case ($20)

For maximum utility, few companies can compete with Armor-X’s Shockproof Case, which boasts a unique, integrated X-mount adapter, which is magnetic and compatible with the full line of Armor-X mount technologies. Keep your phone handy on your bike, arm, or holster with the included belt clip and carabiner, or combine it with an X-mount attachment to affix the phone to a helmet, bag, or tripod, among other things. Not to mention, the case does a great job of protecting your phone in all scenarios.

Buy it now from:

Armor-X